Artificial Photosynthesis: Faraday Discussion 215

Artificial photosynthesis is a process that converts solar energy into a renewable fuel, a so-called solar fuel. This rapidly developing and growing area addresses a global challenge of the 21st century: the transition from a fossil fuel-based to a sustainable economy. This field is cross-disciplinary, spanning biology and chemistry to physics and engineering, with physical chemistry at its core, essential to fundamentally understanding the underlying processes that enable light absorption, charge separation and efficient redox catalysis. Due to the dynamic pace and progress in artificial photosynthesis research we are now at a decisive stage where some of the fundamental questions have been answered and applications are becoming a reality. This volume brings together research from scientists with a broad set of expertise, aiming to find consensus on priorities in the future development of artificial photosynthesis research. It explores recent breakthroughs and contemporary challenges in the field within four key themes: Biological approaches to artificial photosynthesis Synthetic approaches to artificial photosynthesis Demonstrator devices for artificial photosynthesis Beyond artificial photosynthesis